melanie glöckler gives forgotten objects a second life

melanie glöckler gives forgotten objects a second life
(above) the ‘héritage collection’ is made of a glass, a bowl and a pot
all images courtesy of melanie glöckler

to create the ‘héritage’ collection, designer melanie glöckler started off with the fundamental questions of analog work processes in a nowadays digital world, having set her goal to give a long forgotten object a second life. to do so, she used old existing archetypes and shaped them with modern technology, bringing them from the past into the present. the initial design process started by 3D modeling the pieces that interplay between traditional shapes and the CNC styrocutter possibilities.

the designer used existing archetypes and shaped them with modern technology

the CNC styrocutter starts off with a styrofoam block on a rotating plate. the cuts are made with a hot wire and only in vertical and horizontal ways. these technical limitations made it possible to create uncommon abstractions and evolutionary lineups of the different stages along the production process. the ordinary details such as holes, free spaces and round elements, suddenly became challenges, that were turned by the designer into advantages.

the new shape feels contemporary

héritage vases

CNC machine cutting the styrofoam block
video courtesy of melanie glöckler

3D model

cutter software

CNC styrocutter

styrofoam cut by hot wire 

sanding the porcelain

designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.